Acoustical ceiling structure



M. L. LY DARD ACOUSTICAL CEILING STRUCTURE Dec; 30, 1958 Filed June 11, 1957 [ill-Pt] r w 4 W F IN VENTOR ATTORNEY it w mt h ACOUSTICAL CEILING STRUCTURE Martin L. Lydard, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Eastern Products Corporation, a corporation of Maryland Application June 11, 1957, Serial No. 664,935

2. Claims. (Cl. 20-4) The present invention relates to a means for suspending acoustical tiles or the like from the ceiling of a room, and more particularly an improved acoustical tile fastening clip for this purpose,

Heretofore various means have been proposed for suspending acoustical tiles from-the ceiling of a room; however, such proposed means each has one or more drawbacks. In some of the systems proposed, the distance from the ceiling to the top surface of the tiles being installed is too great. In others, clips are used which have a tendency to roll and turn in the supporting channels.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a means for suspending acoustical tiles from the ceiling of rooms that requires a minimum distance between the ceiling and the top surface of the tiles being installed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel clip for use in suspending acoustical tiles that prevents rolling and turning in the supporting channels.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel clip for supporting a tile engaging T-member that locks the T-member to said clip.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved system for attaching acoustical tile to an adjacent structure that yields a more rigid structure than those previously proposed.

Other objects and the nature and advantages of the instant invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a ceiling structure embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail enlarged sectional view taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar view in the plane of line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the clip being assembled; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the clip attached to a T-member somewhat shorter than the T-member of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral refers to the acoustical tiles which are of predetermined length and width, and which are provided with grooves 12 in the four edges of each tile. A plurality of metallic channel members 14 are attached to suitable supporting members provided in the ceiling construction such as the bottom chords of bar joists, existing plastered ceilings, concrete beams or slabs and the like. The channels 14 are normally installed on 48" centers and are properly leveled with all bottom surfaces in a level plane. The channels 14 are formed in cross-section with opposite depending webs 16 and inturned flanges 18, leaving an opening 20 therebetween, which flanges form supporting surfaces for the clips 22 to be described hereafter. A splice bar 23 may be used to join adjacent lengths of channels 14.

The clips 22 are made from flat blanks of metal, and

2,866,233 Patented Dec. 30, 1958 are provided with a body-portion 24 which is connected by a neck 26 to a U-shaped suspending means 28 arranged perpendicularly to the body portion 24.

The U-shaped suspending means 28 is formed by bending over a portion of the metal at the top end of the neck 26 to form a flat horizontal surface extending on each side of the neck and both fore and aft of the vertical body portion 24. This flat surface is adapted to rest on the flat top surfaces of the flanges 18 of the channels 14 as shown in Fig. 4. This arrangement yields a flat surface metal to metal engagement which is solid and prevents rocking movement, as in prior structures proposed.

The neck portion 26 contains an embossing 30 which starts in the body portion, continues through the neck, and terminates in the U-shaped suspending means 28. The width of the neck 26 is somewhat smaller than the opening 20 in the channel member so that when the clip is inserted into the channel member as shown in Fig. 4, the U-shaped suspending means 28, being a flat surface, will lie on the inturned flanges 18 without any rocking or turning motion, with the neck 26 extending downwardly through the opening 20.

On each side of the suspending means 28 is located a T-shaped lug 32 attached to the top of the body portion and extending perpendicularly thereto in a horizontal plane. Each T-shaped lug 32 contains a pair of cars 34 which are slightly bent downwardly. Outwardly of each T-shaped lug 32 on the body portion 24 of the clip is a.

slot 36 extending downwardly into the body portion from the top edge thereof defining a tab 38 outwardly thereof.

The lower portion of the body portion 24 is bent at right angles to form a first horizontal flange 40 extending in a direction opposite to that of the T-shaped lugs 32. The first flange 40 extends to a predetermined length and at that point is bent into a second flange 42 that returns approximately twothirds of the distance back to the main body. The space 44 between the flanges 40 and 42 is adapted to receive a flange 46 of the T-member 48. The T-membe'rs 48, which act as the tile suspension member, by engaging the slots in the tiles, are formed of a leg portion 50 and the flanges 46, 47 extending in opposite directions from the bottom of the leg portion 50 and perpendicular thereto.

In assembly, the channel members 14 are first assembled to the ceiling or the ceiling beams with their lower surfaces level. The clips 22 are inserted into the openings of the channels to the position shown in Fig. 2 with the U-shaped suspending means 28 resting on the inturned flanges 18 of the channels. The flanges 40, 42 of the clips are then slid into the kerfs of the previously hung tiles. The T-members 48 are now inserted into the clips with the flange 46 of the T-member fitting between the flanges 40 and 42 of the clip in the space 44. The tabs 32 are then squeezed to bend downwardly the cars 34 about the leg portion of the T-member and thus lock the T-member securely to the clip.

In cases where a T-member is used that has a short leg portion 50. as shown in Fig. 5, the end tabs 38 are bent downwardly over the leg portion 50 of the T-member to lock it in place.

Extending between adjacent tiles 10 between adjacent T-members are flat splines 60, as shown in Fig. 1. The flat splines 60 are metallic strips provided with a pair of embossments 62 extending virtually the entire length of the splines. The embossments 62 are adapted to enter the kerfs of adjacent tiles in a direction at right angles to the direction of the T-members 48.

The flanges 47 of the T-members 48 enter the kerfs of adjacent tiles 10.

In this manner it can be seen that the entire tilesuspending structure is carried by the clips 22.

The particular shape of the suspending means 28 on the clips yields a flat surface perpendicular to the body of the clip that engages the channel members and thus gives a suitable bearing surface to prevent rolling and turning of the clip after installation. Further, the arrangement of the lugs or tabs in combination with the lower flanges 40, 42 on the clips securely locks the 'T-members to the clips, preventing undesired disengagement during installation of the tiles.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An acoustical tile clip of sheet metal for cooperation with a channel member and comprising a body portion, means at the top thereof to engage said channel member transversely thereof, said means being arranged perpendicularly to said body portion and extending in both directions therefrom and constituting a flat bearing surface, a flange extending at substantially a right angle from said body portion at the lower end thereof, a second flange extending inwardly from the outer edge of said first flange below said first flange and spaced a short distance therefrom, a pair of lugs arranged perpendicularly to said body portion and extending outwardly from said body portion in a direction opposite to said first flange, said lugs being located on opposite sides of said means for engaging the channel member and in a plane below said means, and a pair of tabs located on opposite sides of said means for engaging the channel member near the upper end of said body portion, said tabs being formed by slots in the body portion extending downwardly from the top edge thereof.

2. An acoustical tile clip in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second flange is of lesser width than said first flange.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 683,799 Reavis Oct. 1, 1901 2,227,570 Burson Jan. 7, 1941 2,303,271 Haertel Nov. 24, 1942 2,328,977 Hasenburger et al. Sept. 7, 1943 2,485,090 Finch Oct. 18, 1949 

